A short walk from Ameyoko northwards, past Ueno Station, will take you to the lush, green spaces of Ueno Park. Established in 1876 on a site that formerly was part of the vast grounds of Kanei-ji Temple built during the Edo period (17th—19th century), Ueno Park is home to numerous cultural and scientific research facilities, and to this day it functions as a base for the promotion of arts and culture in Japan.

The sight of children cheerfully romping around the wide, well-maintained lanes of the park on holidays has been a constant since 1882, when the Ueno Zoological Gardens were opened within Ueno Park. As home to seven museums and art galleries, including the National Museum of Western Art, which was designed by the renowned French architect Le Corbusier and is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and the National Museum of Nature and Science, Tokyo, which is extremely popular for its exhibit of dinosaur skeletons, Ueno Park is an inexhaustible source of entertainment and information.

Lovingly called “The Mountain” by the locals, Ueno Park is a famous cherry blossom viewing spot in spring, while in summer people come to enjoy the stunning view of lotus flowers in full bloom in Shinobazu Pond. Visitors who wish to relish these enchanting seasonal traditions and further acquaint themselves with Japanese culture should drop by Suzumoto Entertainment Theater for a taste of the ancient storytelling art of rakugo. This is a classic art unique to Japan, in which a single story-teller uses only vocal expressions and gestures to portray the world of a comical story, playing all the characters, to brighten the audience's heart. Those who have a sweet tooth definitely must pay a visit to Mihashi Ueno Honten, popular for its signature anmitsu (dessert with agar-agar jelly, fruits, red bean paste, and sweet sugar syrup) and Usagiya, famous all over Japan for its dorayaki (a dessert with red bean filling between two fluffy pancakes).

At 6 p.m., the bell in the neighboring Kanei-ji Temple still rings out the time. The sound and vibe of Ueno have remained unchanged through the ages. Learn, explore, and have fun. A day spent in Ueno, where the winds of history and culture mix with the bustle of the big city, is sure to create some very colorful memories.

Enjoy a rakugo performance at Suzumoto Entertainment Theater. Many story tellers, such as Tachibanaya Entaro (right), perform here every day.

Usagiya is a popular store for Japanese sweets established in 1913. Make sure you try their famous freshly-prepared dorayaki.

Ueno Area Map

①Ueno Zoological Gardens②National Museum of Nature and Science, Tokyo③The National Museum of Western Art④Ameyoko⑤Suzumoto Entertainment Theater⑥Mihashi Honten⑦Usagiya

●Access

Approximately 60 minutes by Keisei Line Limited Express from Narita Airport to Ueno.

●Contact information

The Official Tokyo Travel Guide GO TOKYO
https://www.gotokyo.org/en/index.html
Ueno Zoological Gardens
https://www.tokyo-zoo.net/english/index.html